Science of Meditation* Meditation creates a unique hypometabolic state, in which the metabolism is in an even deeper state of rest than during sleep. During sleep, oxygen consumption drop by 8 percent, but during meditation, it drops by 10 to 20 percent

* Meditation is the only activity that reduces blood lactate, a marker of stress and anxiety

* The calming hormones melatonin and serotonin are increased by meditation, and the stress hormone cortisol is decreased

* Meditation has a profound effect upon the three key indicators of aging: hearing ability, blood pressure, and vision of close objects

* Meditators secrete more of the youth-related hormone DHEA as they age than nonmeditators. Meditating forty-five-year-old males have an average of 23% more DHEA than nonmeditators, and meditating females have an avereage of 47% more.- This helps reduce stress, heighten memory, preserve function, and control weight

* 75% of insomniacs were able to sleep normally when they meditated

* 34% of people with chronic pain significantly reduced medication when they began meditating